Chapter 299: A Thunderous Shot, the Bullet Strikes the Priest’s Left Shoulder

At this moment.

Su Ming had already completed his preparations.

Chewing a piece of gum designed to enhance focus, he squinted through the Sniper Scope with one eye, aiming directly at the rooftop where the Priest was lying in wait.

Just then.

Lin Tian’s voice rang out through a loudspeaker, delivering a message of persuasion.

“Priest.”

“We’ve fully tracked your movements, and the entire area is under tight lockdown. You have no chance of escape.”

“If you put down your weapon and surrender with your hands up, there’s still room for negotiation.”

“But if you continue to be stubborn, we won’t wait any longer. We will bring you in, no matter what.”

“You have thirty seconds. I’m giving you thirty seconds to think it over.”

“Drop your weapon and surrender now.”

Although Lin Tian was speaking from the ground at Sanhe Square, the loudspeaker’s amplification made every word crystal clear to the Priest on the rooftop.

But the Priest showed no reaction to the hollow words. His face remained expressionless.

He took a deep drag from his cigar and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his face full of disdain.

Then he pulled out a phone from his pocket and dialed the Police Hotline for the Yang Liu Criminal Investigation Brigade.

As soon as the call connected.

The Priest didn’t hesitate in the slightest. In a calm, emotionless tone, he said,

“I’m the Priest you’re looking for.”

“You have ten seconds to find Lin Tian’s number. I need to speak with him directly.”

The Priest’s straightforward declaration left the hotline operator momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, they quickly responded.

“Y-Yes.”

“I’ll get Chief Lin’s number for you right away.”

Seconds later.

The Priest received the phone number sent by the operator.

Of course, the operator had likely confirmed with either Chen Sheng or Lin Tian before sending it.

Meanwhile.

Su Ming, still squinting through the Sniper Scope and carefully observing the rooftop, could now faintly make out…

A steady stream of smoke rising from a corner near the railing.

Earlier intel had specifically mentioned that the Priest had a habit of smoking cigars to relieve stress and focus his mind.

Clearly, the spot where the smoke was rising had to be the Priest’s current hiding place.

With that realization.

Su Ming silently adjusted the Sniper Rifle, aiming directly at that location. He pressed his earpiece and spoke in a calm voice.

“Chief Lin.”

“I’ve got a preliminary lock on the Priest’s position. I need you to draw him out—make him stand or at least expose a viable target.”

“He’s still hiding behind the railing, so I can’t get a clean shot.”

“But I’m confident. As long as he exposes any part of his body, I can hit him instantly and disable his ability to retaliate.”

Upon hearing Su Ming’s report.

Lin Tian, who was standing in the open space of Sanhe Square just out of the Priest’s line of sight, gave a slight nod.

“Understood.”

“The Priest just called the hotline to get my number. He probably wants to talk.”

“I’ll try to lower his guard and see if I can get him to reveal himself, even just a little, to set up a counter-sniper shot.”

Just as he finished speaking.

The phone in Lin Tian’s tightly gripped hand began to ring and vibrate urgently.

He glanced at the screen.

It was an unmarked number with no caller ID or location. Lin Tian’s expression turned grim.

It was undoubtedly the Priest calling.

Taking a deep breath, he answered the call, his tone calm and cold.

“Priest, is it?”

“There’s nothing much for us to talk about. If you’re willing to surrender with your hands up, then—”

Before Lin Tian could finish.

The Priest’s low, raspy voice cut him off.

“Send Su Ming over.”

“I need to make sure he’s still at Sanhe Square and hasn’t gone off to hunt the Ghost.”

“You may have found me, but as long as the Ghost is still alive, that’s all that matters. If you want my cooperation, do as I say.”

“Put Su Ming in my line of sight, and for the next twenty-four hours, he’s not to move, not to pursue the Ghost.”

“When the time’s up, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

After hearing the Priest’s demand.

Lin Tian raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had never expected the Priest to cooperate, nor did he believe the man had any real intention of doing so.

But the meaning behind his words was too obvious.

Using the excuse of protecting the Ghost, the Priest was trying to lure Su Ming into his sights for a sniper shot.

It was laughably naïve.

Or perhaps… the Priest had reached the end of the road and had no other options.

After a few seconds of careful thought.

Lin Tian narrowed his eyes, then began walking toward the center of the square, speaking in a cold, pointed tone.

“If waiting twenty-four hours lets the Ghost escape Jiahe City, then your so-called intel is worthless to me.”

“And you’re the one trapped here. I’ve got all the time in the world to play this game with you.”

“I’m standing right in the middle of Sanhe Square. If you really want to talk, then write down a clue—something meaningful—and when we get you to the Detention Center, I might be able to pull a few strings for you.”

By now.

Lin Tian had reached the exact center of Sanhe Square, one of the most optimal spots for a sniper to take a shot.

It was clear that Lin Tian had made himself the bait, hoping to lure the Priest into exposing enough of his body for a clean shot.

Su Ming had already pointed out that since the Ghost couldn’t be executed as planned, the Priest would likely shift his focus to the Special Task Force.

In Lin Tian’s estimation, aside from Su Ming, he himself was the Priest’s next most likely target.

So now that the Priest knew Lin Tian was standing wide open in the middle of the square, would he take the bait?

Lin Tian didn’t know. He was gambling.

Gambling that the Priest would take the shot, revealing himself in the process.

And he was gambling that Su Ming would be able to hit the Priest the moment he appeared, stopping him from retaliating.

At that moment.

The Priest, hiding behind the rooftop railing, narrowed his cold eyes and bit down hard on his cigar.

After two seconds of thought.

He made his decision without hesitation. His only goal was to weaken the police by taking out one of their strongest assets.

Whether it was Su Ming or Lin Tian, killing either would deal a heavy blow to the Special Task Force.

In the next second.

The Priest shifted position, pointing the Heavy Sniper Rifle toward the outside of the railing.

Then.

Just as he raised his head and spotted Lin Tian standing in the center of the square, ready to take the shot from a distance—

“Bang—!”

The deep boom of a sniper shot rang out, sending a jolt of tension through everyone present.

But through Su Ming’s Sniper Scope, he could already see it clearly… the Priest’s left arm, soaked in blood and hanging limp, completely unable to lift.